SPJ News

SPJ Blogs: Newest Posts

Quill Headlines

Journalist's Toolbox

@SPJ_Tweets

Connect with SPJ

SPJ on Facebook

Upcoming Eventsand Deadlines

Become an SPJ Member

For more than 100 years the Society of Professional Journalists has been dedicated to encouraging a climate in which journalism can be practiced more freely and fully, stimulating high standards and ethical behavior in the practice of journalism and perpetuating a free press.

About the Foundation

Since its founding in 1961, the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation has promoted excellence and ethics in journalism. The SDX Foundation is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization that supports the educational programs of the Society of Professional Journalists and serves the professional needs of journalists and students pursuing careers in journalism.

Excellence in Journalism 2015Sept 18-20, 2015 – Orlando

Excellence in Journalism is the national journalism conference of the Society of Professional Journalists and the Radio Television Digital News Association. Join us in September in Orlando for training, networking, workshops and more!

SPJ News

SPJ Blogs: Newest Posts

Quill Headlines

Journalist's Toolbox

@SPJ_Tweets

Connect with SPJ

SPJ on Facebook

Upcoming Eventsand Deadlines

Become an SPJ Member

For more than 100 years the Society of Professional Journalists has been dedicated to encouraging a climate in which journalism can be practiced more freely and fully, stimulating high standards and ethical behavior in the practice of journalism and perpetuating a free press.

About the Foundation

Since its founding in 1961, the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation has promoted excellence and ethics in journalism. The SDX Foundation is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization that supports the educational programs of the Society of Professional Journalists and serves the professional needs of journalists and students pursuing careers in journalism.

Excellence in Journalism 2015Sept 18-20, 2015 – Orlando

Excellence in Journalism is the national journalism conference of the Society of Professional Journalists and the Radio Television Digital News Association. Join us in September in Orlando for training, networking, workshops and more!

Visit the website to read the details and apply for the position. If you have questions, contact SPJ HQ at 317.927.8000 or email Tara Puckey.

STAND UP FOR FOI

If you have encountered a person or organization that deliberately obstructed access to public information, nominate them for the Black Hole Award. The "honor," awarded by SPJ's Freedom of Information Committee, highlights heinous violations of the public's right to know.

The deadline for nominations is Monday, Feb. 18. The committee welcomes nominations from local SPJ chapters, SPJ members, other journalists and private citizens, and the recipient(s) will be announced during Sunshine Week, March 10 to 16. Nomination criteria are available online, and nominations should be emailed to Mike Farrell of the FOI Committee.

SPJ LEADERS WRITE TO FAMU

SPJ President Sonny Albarado and President-elect Dave Cuillier wrote to the J-school dean at Florida A&M University and expressed concern about the school's treatment of student journalists. Following a libel suit against the university and the student newspaper, The Famuan, the paper was suspended and students were told to reapply for their jobs. The editor-in-chief was not rehired, supposedly because of his dedication to holding the administration accountable through reporting. Read more about the controversy on SPJ's Region 3 blog.

Albarado and Cuillier wrote dean Ann Kimbrough and said the hiring decision came across as a First Amendment violation and could set a precedent for future restriction of press freedom. Read the letter on SPJ's website.

The Cleveland Pro Chapter hosts the event Saturday, Feb. 23 at the DoubleTree Cleveland Downtown. Two sessions will be presented by Jeff Cutler, the first of which will focus on online writing, the second on becoming a better listener. The deadline to register is February 19.

HAVE YOU READ QUILL YET?

The January/February issue of Quill magazine is out, and we hope you've enjoyed the content. If you haven't had a chance to browse yet, take a look at the articles online, which cover the work-life balance, data visualization and tools for your everyday journalist's life.

FIND YOUR SPRING CONFERENCE

If you haven't registered for the SPJ Spring Conference in your region, take a look at the schedule and find out what your local event has to offer. These gatherings serve as fantastic networking and professional-development opportunities. It's always a smart idea to invest in your career.

OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND

Here is a short list of some awards, contests and fellowships with approaching deadlines, FYI:

Loop21.com is conducting a race and media survey until Feb. 14, and it "aims to shed light on how modern day politics and race relations affect journalists working in mainstream media."

Media professionals interested in taking the online survey can access it by clicking this link.

OHIO UNIVERSITY JOURNALISM SYMPOSIUM

Ohio University's E.W. Scripps School of Journalism will host its annual Schuneman Symposium on Photojournalism & New Media from Feb. 25 to 26. The topic is why excellence in journalism still matters.

All events are free and open to the public, and further information on the symposium can be found online.

LAST WEEK'S QUIZ

When did SPJ start giving awards for professional journalism?

Answer: It seems we're in need of a staff historian. The history timeline says 1935, but the Sigma Delta Chi Awards site says they started in 1932. Because we received both responses, we'll have a 1932 winner and a 1935 winner.

The winners are ... Irwin Gratz (1932) and Chona Montesine-Sonido. Irwin is a past national president of SPJ and is the "Morning Edition" producer for Maine Public Broadcasting. Chona is the publisher and managing editor for the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle. Prizes are traveling to your (complete opposite) parts of the country!